New Jersey @ Montreal preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2019 ) New Jersey 2, Montreal 4

The surging Montreal Canadiens try to snap a five-game slide against New Jersey when they return home to face the Devils on Saturday. Montreal improved to 7-1-1 in its last nine games after cooling off Washington 5-2 on Friday behind a goal and three assists from Tomas Tatar (team-most 19 points) and 26 saves by Carey Price as a 4-4-2 start gets smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.

The Canadiens' Jonathan Drouin (seven goals, 15 points) left Friday's game after taking a big hit from Alex Ovechkin but returned for the third period after Montreal scored four goals in the middle session without its talented forward. "I think it just woke us up," Montreal center Phillip Danault told reporters. "That was not great, but it definitely woke up the team. Jo took a hit for the team and came back and is healthy, so that's all that matters." New Jersey is coming off a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday for its second win in three contests and has split 12 games (6-4-2) since losing its first six contests of the season (0-4-2). Canadiens goaltender Keith Kinkaid played 151 games from 2012-19 for the Devils and will likely face his former team for the first time Saturday.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), CITY, Sportsnet East, TVA (Montreal)

ABOUT THE DEVILS (6-8-4): Kyle Palmieri has a team-high six goals but hasn't scored in eight November games. Jack Hughes, the first overall pick in the 2019 draft who is averaging just over 16 minutes of ice time, owns four goals and nine points but has been kept off the scoresheet in the last four contests with six shots during that span. Taylor Hall recorded one of his team-leading 15 points in the last four games and has been stuck on two goals for seven contests.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (11-5-3): Tatar has scored in two straight games and boasts three goals along with five assists in his last five contests. Danault had a goal and two assists versus Washington while Brendan Gallagher (team-high eight goals) provided an assist. Shea Weber has four goals and three assists during a five-game point streak after recording one of each Friday while fellow blueliner Ben Chiarot had two assists, giving him five points in his last five contests.

OVERTIME

1. New Jersey C Travis Zajac, 34, scored Friday to end a 10-game pointless streak - the longest of his career.

2. Montreal is 2-for-21 on the power play in its last eight games while New Jersey is 1-for-17 in its past six contests.

3. The Devils placed D Sami Vatanen (upper body) on injured reserve, retroactive to Nov. 8, and recalled D Colton White from AHL Binghamton.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 3, Devils 2